Councillors in the Western Isles have repealed a ban on Sunday entertainment after being told they may be breaking human rights legislation.
Campaigners who wanted to uphold the traditional rules of the Sabbath had opposed the recommendation.
But the authority's policy and resources committee agreed to change the policy by six votes to two.
Trading on Sundays has long been frowned upon by traditionalists in parts of the Western Isles.
This has been reflected by the local council, which had refused to grant seven day licences to businesses on the mainly Protestant islands of Lewis, Harris and North Uist.
Paintball business
However, since 1999 the restriction has not applied to Benbecula, South Uist and Barra, which have mainly Catholic populations.
The rethink on that policy was prompted by an application to run a paintball business near Stornoway seven days a week.
It was lodged by Jason King and Joe Engebretson, who started Viking Paintball in March.
The report to councillors said it was not for the council to deny a licence on moral or political grounds.
It warned that a failure to change the current policy could leave the council open to a legal challenge under European human rights legislation.
Councillor Iain Murdo Macleod told councillors that communities in Lewis, Harris and North Uist should be consulted before a decision was made.
A similar plea was made before Thursday's meeting by the Lords Day Observance Society, which said its members were angry they had not been involved in discussions.
However, Councillor Norman Macdonald said he had received representations from both sides of the argument.